RIP Flight Availability tool on Flight Stats

As the title says... I went to do a load check today and couldn't find the flight availability function anywhere. Thinking I was being dense, I did a search to see what I was missing. After reading a couple of threads over on FT, it looks like Flight Stats have pulled the flight availability function from the website. Shame, as I know quite a few people found it useful.

Nooo... that's a real shame.

I read a few weeks ago on the DL Flyer Talk Board that DL had told Expert Flyer to remove DL data so I guess this maybe an extension of that.

expert flyer statement on DL FT board

[Neil]

They may have been struggling to get the data, that was what caused us to stop having the same feature on here.

Complete pain. I was still using it only a few days ago. Really makes me seethe that these companies to whom we're paying shedloads set out to remove anything and everything that we use to get information. How soon before ITA Matrix is got at and folds?

Oh I am really disappointed. I so enjoyed being able to use it.

Very annoying!
Is the only option available now to pay for expert flyer?

Very annoying!
Is the only option available now to pay for expert flyer?

Not sure. I read it as data not being supplied to anyone whether they charged users or not

Very annoying!
Is the only option available now to pay for expert flyer?

All data bar Delta info is still available from Expertflyer (for a cost).

Strangely enough, it still shows the delta / virgin code share flight numbers ie J5 D3 etc but no seat maps.

David

Expert flyer free trial gives the opportunity to use it but it's unreliable IMO for example on a a333 in UC apparently there's 40 odd seats...

KVS Availability Tool works well (paid)

Depending on the subscription, you can search for reward flights too. Has proven itself very useful in the past.

Expert flyer free trial gives the opportunity to use it but it's unreliable IMO for example on a a333 in UC apparently there's 40 odd seats...

Maybe just a one off.

I picked a random flight to BGI on an A330 and got this which shows the correct seat amounts

[mitchja]

Expertflyer seats maps for VS LHR 744's are often wrong, showing 4 seats across in rows 1 -5 (upper deck) and rows 12 - 19 (nose section) in J. The non-existent D&G seats are always showing as occupied though.


Also remember that Expertflyer and KVS are accessing VS's GDS system which is different to VS's directly booked reservation and seat map system.

For example, I have selected row 28 (the exit row on a LHR 744) for my Premium Economy flight to MIA in a few weeks on the VS website (just checked and no-one is sat next to me according to the VS seat map), however, Expertflyer is showing row 28 as having both seats occupied meaning it's blocked on the GDS system.

Don't rely on expert flyer. If someone has booked a flight but not selected a seat it will show as available, for instance I have just selected seats on an AA internal flight and if showed only I seat taken in first. However I know that the cabin is fully booked as I had just spoken with AA and tried to add a seat to our booking

[preiffer]

Seat maps ≠ Availability.

Never have been, never will be.

KVS Availability Tool works well (paid)

Depending on the subscription, you can search for reward flights too. Has proven itself very useful in the past.

You may want to give this a read first http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-tools/319244-kvs-availability-tool-458.html. Gets quite heated at times and makes you wonder if what you are doing is actually legal. Ended up by a moderator closing it.

gnjb.

[mitchja]

They are technically correct as this GDS info these tools access was never intended for anyone other than travel agents.

You may want to give this a read first http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-tools/319244-kvs-availability-tool-458.html. Gets quite heated at times and makes you wonder if what you are doing is actually legal. Ended up by a moderator closing it.

gnjb.

Very good point.

I use it to research BA flights, and have spoken to a friend in BA revenue management, who are fully aware of KVS and have no issue with it. All the features are effectively available through the BA website, including live seat maps without booking, it's just often easier to use KVS.

Not sure about other airlines though.